Back to Search

Irwin 34 Citation

Designer: Ted Irwin  ·  Builder: Irwin Yachts  ·  First built: 1979
+ Add to Compare
About the Irwin 34 Citation

Built during Irwin's productive era of fiberglass sailboat manufacturing, the Citation 34 represents the Florida-based builder's approach to mid-sized cruising sailboats. This model emerged from a company known for producing affordable, practical vessels that appealed to sailors seeking solid performance without premium pricing. The Citation 34 embodies typical characteristics of its generation, featuring a moderate displacement design that balances comfort with sailing ability. Irwin boats from this period were recognized for their spacious interiors relative to overall length, making them popular choices for coastal cruising and extended weekends aboard. The hull design suggests capability for both bay sailing and offshore passages, though like most boats of its era and price point, it's best suited for coastal and near-coastal adventures. Irwin's reputation centered on building boats that offered good value for money, with solid construction techniques and practical layouts that maximized living space. The Citation 34 likely features the straightforward systems and accessible maintenance that characterized the builder's philosophy. For sailors seeking an affordable entry into cruising or a reliable platform for coastal exploration, this model represents Irwin's commitment to functional, no-nonsense sailboat design.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 34.25 ft / 10.44 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.33 ft / 8.33 m
Beam 11.25 ft / 3.43 m
Max Draft 5.33 ft / 1.62 m
Displacement 11,500.00 lb / 5,216 kg
Ballast 4,100.00 lb / 1,860 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 538.00 ft² / 49.98 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ted Irwin
Builder Irwin Yachts
First Built 1979
Last Built 1985
Related Sailboats Hunter 34 · Tartan 34 2 · Islander 34 2 · Sabre 34 · Ericson 34
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 168
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.95
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 24.06
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.01
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.16
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 42.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.75
P (Mainsail Luff) 37.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.5
SA Fore 288.75
SA Main 249.75
How It Compares

vs. Ericson 34, Hunter 34, Islander 34 2, Sabre 34, Tartan 34 2

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Irwin 34 Citation ★
34.3 ft
Ericson 34
34.1 ft
Hunter 34
34.4 ft
Islander 34 2
34.3 ft
Sabre 34
34.2 ft
Tartan 34 2
34.4 ft
LWL
Irwin 34 Citation ★
27.3 ft
Ericson 34
28.9 ft
Hunter 34
28.3 ft
Islander 34 2
28.0 ft
Sabre 34
26.3 ft
Tartan 34 2
28.8 ft
Beam
Irwin 34 Citation ★
11.3 ft
Ericson 34
10.8 ft
Hunter 34
11.6 ft
Islander 34 2
11.0 ft
Sabre 34
10.5 ft
Tartan 34 2
11.0 ft
Displacement
Irwin 34 Citation ★
11 lbs
Ericson 34
10 lbs
Hunter 34
11 lbs
Islander 34 2
9 lbs
Sabre 34
11 lbs
Tartan 34 2
11 lbs
Ballast
Irwin 34 Citation ★
4 lbs
Ericson 34
5 lbs
Hunter 34
5 lbs
Islander 34 2
3 lbs
Sabre 34
4 lbs
Tartan 34 2
4 lbs
Sail Area
Irwin 34 Citation ★
538 sq ft
Ericson 34
494 sq ft
Hunter 34
567 sq ft
Islander 34 2
545 sq ft
Sabre 34
506 sq ft
Tartan 34 2
538 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
168 s/nm
Ericson 34
159 s/nm
Hunter 34
159 s/nm
Islander 34 2
210 s/nm
Sabre 34
132 s/nm
Tartan 34 2
174 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
17.0
Ericson 34
17.1
Hunter 34
17.5
Islander 34 2
19.3
Sabre 34
16.0
Tartan 34 2
17.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
—
Ericson 34
—
Hunter 34
42.3 %
Islander 34 2
39.1 %
Sabre 34
—
Tartan 34 2
40.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
24.1
Ericson 34
21.5
Hunter 34
23.1
Islander 34 2
20.5
Sabre 34
26.9
Tartan 34 2
23.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
2.00
Ericson 34
2.00
Hunter 34
2.04
Islander 34 2
2.07
Sabre 34
1.87
Tartan 34 2
1.97
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
—
Ericson 34
—
Hunter 34
234
Islander 34 2
196
Sabre 34
—
Tartan 34 2
204
Hull Speed
Irwin 34 Citation ★
7.0 kts
Ericson 34
7.2 kts
Hunter 34
7.1 kts
Islander 34 2
7.1 kts
Sabre 34
6.9 kts
Tartan 34 2
7.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Irwin 34 Citation ★
2.2
Ericson 34
2.9
Hunter 34
—
Islander 34 2
2.7
Sabre 34
1.8
Tartan 34 2
2.7
Find a Irwin 34 Citation For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace